UN Security Council approves US-backed Gaza stabilization force and transitional governance plan

Tuesday 18 November 2025 - 10:20

By: Dakir Madiha

UN Security Council approves US-backed Gaza stabilization force and transitional governance plan

The United Nations Security Council has passed a US-drafted resolution endorsing President Donald Trump's 20-point peace plan for Gaza, marking a significant diplomatic development after two years of conflict. The resolution, adopted with 13 votes in favor and abstentions from China and Russia, establishes a transitional Board of Peace to govern Gaza and authorizes an International Stabilization Force (ISF) tasked with securing borders, facilitating humanitarian aid, and overseeing Gaza's demilitarization.

The resolution empowers the stabilization force to work in coordination with Israel, Egypt, and a newly trained Palestinian police unit to ensure security and enable reconstruction efforts. Israeli forces are expected to withdraw progressively from Gaza aligned with benchmarks tied to demilitarization, a process demanding the permanent disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups—though Hamas has rejected the resolution.

Beyond immediate security concerns, the resolution tentatively opens the door toward Palestinian self-determination, specifying that conditions may eventually be conducive for a credible pathway to statehood once reforms and reconstruction are advanced under the Palestinian Authority’s oversight. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed opposition to any Palestinian state within the territory west of the Jordan River.

The resolution and its approval came in the context of broader regional diplomacy, including Saudi Arabia’s role and its crown prince’s engagement with US leadership, reflecting intertwined interests in advancing Gaza’s stability and addressing the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.